Mail-bag.



No. 746,013. PATENTED DEC. 8, 1903.

G. H. BURTON.

MAIL BAG.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WHIDZSSQS 2 m: "cams PETERS c0, PNDYO-LIYHO. wnsummou, n c

Iatented December 8, 1903.;

PATENT OFFICE.

CLYDE H. BURTON, OF HONEOYE FALLS, NEW YORK.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,013, dated December 8, 1903.

Application filed September 30, 1902. Serial No. 125,436. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LCLYDE H. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Honeoye Falls, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Mail-Bag, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to mailbags, and more particularly to a bag adapted for use in connection with the rural free-delivery service.

The object of the invention is to obviate distribution of mail-matter within the wagon on the part of the carrier and to facilitate delivery of mail to the recipients.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists, generally stated, in-a mailbag comprising a plurality of pockets open at the side, each pocket bearing the name or other designation of a person for whom the mail contained therein is intended, combined with means for preventing the bag from sagging when suspended, with means for suspending the bag while being filled, and with assembling means for preventing loss of the mail-matter when once placed within the pockets.

The invention consists, further, in the novel construction and combination of parts of a mail-bag of the character specified, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference-indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of theinvention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied and changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof, and in these drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a mailbag constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mail-bag rolled up and as it appears after the mail-matter has been placed therein. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the upper portion of the bag.

The mail-bag (designated generallyl) may be constructed of any suitable material, such as leather or canvas, preferably the latter,

and is by preference made from a single piece of material folded upon itself and divided into pockets of the desired size by lines of stitches 2. By making the bag of one piece of material the provision of attached bottoms is obviated, thereby reducing the cost of the bag to a minimum; but it will be understood that, if preferred, the bottoms may be made as separate elements and associated with the bag. One side of the material is longer than the other to present side flaps 3, which when the bag is suspended will operate as guides to facilitate the insertion of the mailmatter.

The upper and lower ends of the bag have secured to them, as by being riveted thereto or otherwise, battens 4:, which operate to reinforce the ends of the bag against wear to prevent bending when rolled up, as shown in Fig. 2, and also operate to prevent the bag from sagging when mail-matter is being inserted. The batten at the upper end of the bag has connected with it two loops 5, of any suitable material, by which the bag is suspended when mail-matter is being'inserted in the pockets. The upper end of the bag also has associated with it a strap 6, which may be secured to the batten or to the bag, as preferred, by rivets 7, the buckle 8 of the strap being projected but slightly above the said end of the bag.

Each of the pockets or compartments will bear the name of the person for whom the contained mail is intended or some other suitable designation to enable the carrier at a glance to determine the recipient.

In the use of this device it is suspended in any suitable manner from the loops 5, and the mail is inserted laterally in the pockets, the distribution being effected at the post-office or substation. When filled, the bag is folded, as shown in Fig. 2, and seen red by the strap 6. The mail-matter will be positively held within the bag, so that in the event of a runaway or accident if the bag should be thrown violently upon the ground the mail-matter will still remain intact, and thereby obviate loss and confusion.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is A mail-bag comprising a piece of flexible material folded upon itself upon a line extending longitudinally thereof and divided throughout its length into transverse pockets 1 per batten between the suspension-loops and 10 open at one end, the portion of the piece of adapted to hold the bag when rolled or folded. material which forms the back of the bag be- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ing wider than the front to present a lateral my own I have hereto affixed my signature in flap throughout the length of the bag and i the presence of two Witnesses.

adapted to serve as a guide to said pockets, CLYDE H. BURTON. transverse terminal battens at both ends of \Vitnesses:

the bag, a suspending loop at each end of the t MARION O. MARTIN,

upper batten and a strap secured to said up- I M. ALICE LILLIBRIDGE. 

